The Connection between Asceticism and Ḥadith In Ibn al-Mubārk's Kitāb al-Zuhd

Asceticism as a lifestyle and an Ethical way of conduct was very common in different areas of the Islamic world during the first two centuries. Meanwhile, Ibn al-Mubārk was the first Muslim scholar who collected and classified the Hadiths related to ascetic, he was a Hadith expert who tried to organize and systemize the ascetic thoughts based on Hadith collections. His familiarity with different ascetic views and various ethical schools common among different areas caused him to access different sources in establishing the ascetic method compatible with Islamic tradition and thus, presented a theory accepted by all schools active in this field. The present study aims at introducing the ascetic methods which were common at the time of Ibn al-Mubārak and tries to trace their signs back in the book of al-Zuhd. As you will notice, he is the first person who has been able to combine different local ascetic methods and present an Ultra-local view.